Running through Fort Tryon Park, I've often noticed stray cats, and last week was no different. On the way out, I spotted this guy hanging out on the sidewalk and I said hello. Not long after, another appeared, and soon after I spotted an older couple (as in a human couple) sitting on a bench, furtively feeding the cats. They explained that they've more or less adopted a group of six cats who live on the upper half of the park; the cats are all spayed/neutered and are healthy.
The couple is trying to spread the word to get the cats adopted, which of course is an uphill battle, these days more than ever. The couple said that people regularly abandon pets in the park, which is heartbreaking if you think of your basic inside pet all of a sudden confronted with the prospect of surviving outside. If you're looking for a new cat, though, feel free to get in touch and I'll pass along the info. As I witnessed, several of the cats are quite tame and happy to be picked up and petted, which is rare in feral cats, and I'm sure a testament to the couple taking care of them. What's also unfortunate -- besides the cats living outside -- is that, at least according to the couple, the Parks Department has a new person in charge of Fort Tryon who "hates" cats, and does what she can to prevent anyone from feeding or helping them. Which is a position I suppose I can understand to the extent that nobody wants cats living outdoors -- least of all the poor birds -- but as someone who appreciates cats, I hate the thought of them being captured and sent to an almost certain death. According to the couple, previous park managers have actually cared for a certain number of cats, allowing them inside on cold nights and so forth.
As with so much else, there seems to be no easy solution, and those who deserve it least end up suffering the most.
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